Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Post Flags is a two-by-two Shotgun Spread passer with mirrored route combos on both sides of the formation. To the right, the outside receiver breaks into a post while the inside slot runs a flag route to the corner, stretching the coverage vertically and horizontally on that side. To the left, the outside receiver runs an over route across the field while the slot runs a shallow drag underneath, giving the quarterback a quick-access checkdown if the flag or post window is not open. This is a man beater at its core because the flag route creates natural separation against trailing defenders, but the deep post also punishes single high safety looks and Cover 3 rotations. The primary read progression starts with the post to the flag combo on the right, then works back to the shallow drag on the left as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check the safety alignment. A single high safety in the middle of the field opens up the post route as the top priority throw. Watch cornerback depth on the flag side. If the corner presses at the line, the flag route wins quickly to the sideline before the safety can rotate over. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender dropping into the deep middle third, since that lurk threat can undercut the post if the quarterback stares it down too long. Zone blitzes with a linebacker spying the shallow drag will take away the checkdown side, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and expose him to pressure. Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties squeeze the flag and post combo hard, so look for the underneath drag or over route to convert instead of forcing the ball deep.
Usage Tips
Identify single high safety alignment before the snap because that tells you the post route on the right side has a one on one shot down the middle of the field.
If the corner over the flag route sits in a hard outside shade, hot route the post to a deep dig or throw off pump-fake pressure to freeze the safety before hitting the flag.
Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is likely to sit in zone coverage, since the flag route naturally settles into soft spots in Cover 3 and Cover 4.
Pair Post Flags with Four Verticals or Smash Corners earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping the flag and post combo, then counter with the shallow drag side as a built in answer to sell out coverage.
Watch the underneath linebackers post-snap. If they widen with the drag route, your window to the post tightens, so speed up your internal clock and get the ball out before the post fully breaks.
